Ear-muffle.



No. 827,719. PATENTED AUG. 7, 1906.

J. R. ENGELMAN & 0. PARTBNHEIMER.

EAR MUFFLE. APPLIGLTION FILED APB. 11, 190e.

IINITED- jSlr-YIES PATENT orrion. 7

J ULIUS R. ENGELMAN AND OTTO PARTENHEIMER, OF JERSEY CITY,

Y NEW JERSEY.

EAR-MUFFLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug'. 7, 1906.

Application filed April 11, 1906. 'Serial No. 311.175.

T0 all whom, it may concern.'

Be it known that we, JULIUs` R. ENGEL- MAN, a subject of the German Emperor, and OTTO PARTENHEIMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ear-Muffles, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to ear-mufl'les. It belongs to that class of devices which are used with telephone apparatus to shut out foreign and disturbing sounds from the uncovered ear. In many situations-for example, in large cities or in shops-there are always a multitude of unavoidable noises particularly likely to divert the attention and interfere with the hearing of the telephonic speech as given off by the receiver. One ear is covered by the receiver and ordinarily the remaining ear is exposed-directly to all such sounds.

Our invention is in the class of cup-shaped covers provided with a suitable handle for mufHing the exposed ear.

The object of our invention is the production of an ear-muflle having special construction and in which the handle element may be an ordinary lead-pencil for use in taking down a message, if desired.

We accomplish the stated objects by fashioning and associating the parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings7 of which- Figure l represents a side view in section, showing the air-escape holes in the muffle itself. Eig. 2 represents a side view in section and shows the air-escape orifice in the pencil-handle. Fig. 3 is a side view in section7 showing the pencil-handle transversely placed. F ig. 4 is a face view of the inside of the muffle-cup, showing the perforated retaining-cup for the antiseptic lining. Fig.

5 is a sectional side view illustrating the relative positions of the antiseptic lining and the perforated retaining-cup.

Like letters are used to refer to the same parts throughout. s

The letter A marks the body or cup, usually of rubber and provided with the throat B7 which is an outwardly-extended cylindrical portion. One or more holes C are formed through the wall of the cup, and a passageD is provided through the throat B.

The handle element by which the muflie is applied and adjusted to the ear is a leadpencil E, inserted in throat B and held by the elasticity of the throat. The whole when not in use may be suspended from a convenient bracket E, having a forked end of common description and adapted to engage the rubber ring G, which grasps the pencil, as shown. It will be understood that as the pencil is consumed the ring G is slipped downwardly on it toward the throat B.

Considering Eig. 2, it will be noted that in certain forms of our invention we do not pierce the rubber cup with air-holes, but employ a pencil having a longitudinal recess H, which serves the same purpose hereinbelow set forth.

It is advantageous to provide our invention with a disinfectant or some absorbent carrier for an antiseptic substance, preferably more or less volatile and 'agreeably odoriferous, with the intention of preventing so far as practicable the transfer of infection of any kind. To that end we introduce the absorbent lining J, or this lining may itself be composed of the antiseptic substance in suitable plastic condition. The retainingcup K, usually of rubber and having perforations k, is attached interiorly to hold the absorbent in the cup A.

In the operation of our invention the person using a telephone in order to exclude the undesirable noises covers the lear otherwise exposed with the cup A. It is the habit of most persons to involuntarily press the receiver to the side of the head, and unconsciously the same or greater pressure is exerted upon the muffle, although it is entirely unnecessary. By such pressure air within the yielding rubber muffle is compressed and forced into the ear to its injury unless some means of relief of pressure is afforded. The ofiices of air-holes C and longitudinal recess H in the pencil-handle are to permit the escape of the air and avoid otherwise distressing consequences. The pencilhandle is ready in hand to note down any message received, as will be understood. It is not requisite that the pencil should project directly upward from the exterior of cup A,

IOO

as illustrated in Figs. l and 2, and we have shown it in a transverse position in Fig. 3.

Having now described our invention and explained the mode of its operation, what we claim is 1. An ear-muflie comprising a cup formed of yielding material, and provided with a handle, and devices 'adapted to permit the escape of air from the interior ofthe cup, substantially as described.

2. An ear-mufle, comprising a cup formed of yielding material, and provided with a handle passing from the outside to the inside of the cup, theA said handle being provided with a recess adapted to permit the escape of air from the interior of the cup, substantially as described. 1

3. An ear-muffle comprising a cup formed of yielding material having an eXteriorlyprojecting portion, and a handle connected to the said projecting portion, and devices adapted to permit the escape of air from the interior of the cup, substantially as described. 4. An ear-muifle, comprising a cup formed of yielding material having an eXteriorlyprojecting throat, a handle passing through the said throat from the outside to the inside of the cup, and devices adapted to permit the escape of air from the interior of the cup, substantially as described.

5. An ear-muffle, comprising a cup formed of yielding material having an exteriorlyprojecting throat formed or' the same material, a handle passing through the said throat from the outside to the inside of the cup, the said handle having a recess formed in it adapted to permit the escape of air from the interior ofthe cup, substantially as described 6. An earmufle, comprising a cup formed of yielding material, and provided with a handle consisting of a lead-pencil, and devices adapted to permit the escape of air from the interior of the cup, substantially as described.

7. An ear-muifle comprising a cup formed of yielding material, and provided with a handle, devices permitting .the escape of air from the interior of the cup, and an antiseptic lining attached in the hollow of the cup, substantiall y as described.

8. An earmuile, comprising a cup formed of yielding material and provided with a handle, an antiseptic lining' arranged within the cup, and a perforated retaining-cup placed outside of the said antiseptic lining, and devices for permitting the escape oi air from the interior, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we ai'liX our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JULIUS R. ENGELMAN. OTTO PARTENHEIMER. Witnesses:

CHARLES SUNBURY, WILLIAM CoNNoRs. 

